CBS Tweaks Prime-Time Schedule After New Series Fails to Take Hold

CBS is shuffling its prime-time lineup after watching a new series struggle to gain a ratings foothold. Deadline.com reports that the network is moving its new sci-fi series “Extant,” just three week into the show’s run.

“‘Extant’ is sliding an hour from the post-‘Big Brother’ 9 p.m. berth to 10 p.m. starting this Wednesday,” the story reports. “The Halle Berry-starrer, which has been sliding in Live+Same Day viewing since the premiere, most recently logging a 1.1 in 18-49, will switch places with the ‘Criminal Minds’ repeats that had been airing at 10 p.m.”

The report notes that the move follows a similar tweak by CBS to its Sunday night lineup.

“There, new drama ‘Reckless’ too was falling hard in the ratings at 9 p.m., behind ‘Big Brother,’ leading to returning ‘Unforgettable’ at 10 p.m. After CBS switched ‘Unforgettable’ and ‘Reckless,’ ‘Unforgettable‘s’ numbers naturally went up (+43% in 18-49) with a stronger lead-in from ‘Big Brother.’ But ‘Reckless’ didn’t suffer any further drop among adults 18-49 in its transition to 10 p.m., staying consistent in the demo and even picking up 5% in viewers,” the report notes.

CBS is hoping for a similar outcome for its Wednesday night switch, with the expectation that the established “Criminal Minds,” buoyed by a “Big Brother” lead-in, might have a stabilizing effect on “Extant,” the piece notes.

The report adds: “The scheduling change is made with enough lead time for this Wednesday’s DVR listings to be updated, which is important for ‘Extant.’ The series debut of the mystery drama has seen a 50% bump in 18-49 from Live+SD to Live+7.”